JA Be Entrepreneurial®

JA Be Entrepreneurial introduces students to the essential elements of a practical business plan and then challenges them to start an entrepreneurial venture while still in high school.

Students will learn about advertising, competitive advantages, financing, marketing, and product development.

The program is composed of seven sessions, each 45 minutes in length. The program is recommended for students in grades nine through 12. Materials are packaged in a self-contained kit that includes detailed session plans for the volunteer and materials for 32 students.

All JA programs are designed to support the skills and competencies identified by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. JA programs also correlate to state standards in social studies, English, and mathematics, and to Common Core State Standards.

Program Sessions

Session One: Introduction to Entrepreneurship

Students are introduced to the elements of successful business start-ups, myths and facts about entrepreneurship, and early product development.

Session Two: What's My Business?

Students continue to develop their product or service idea by analyzing various sources of successful entrepreneurial ventures, culminating in their selection of a product or service as the basis of their business plan.

Session Three: Who's My Customer?

Students examine how market needs and demographics contribute to successful entrepreneurial ventures.

Session Four: What's My Advantage?

Students learn the importance of intentionally selecting and applying competitive advantages to an entrepreneurial venture.

Session Five: Competitive Advantages

Students apply competitive advantages to entrepreneurial ventures.

Session Six: Ethics Are Good For Business

Students learn to anticipate ethical dilemmas and consider consequences in making ethical business decisions.

Session Seven: The Business Plan

Students apply the six elements of successful start-ups for their products and services.